Camp Newsletter

I got this little attachment in my email.  Guess who is blowing on a marshmallow?

  River Ranch Newsletter 1

Gidget

From all appearances, we now have another cat.  Darn it.  We've added "Gidget" to her name and think we'll move the "Maybell" to a middle name.  The kids are doing okay with that.  Hans is much happier with the new name.  I think we always come up with better names weeks after we initially choose a name for an animal.

Gidget seems to be adjusting well.  She's definitely a kitten and races around looking to pounce on everything interesting.  She can't seem to retract her claws well, which leads to scratches, but also to many, many snags.  We are constantly un-snagging her after she's gotten herself hung up on clothing or the sofa or blankets and tries to play it off as intentional.  We're transitioning her out of the girls' room.  Gidget keeps making it difficult for the girls to sleep well since she likes playing with their hair!  She's terribly curious about Harvey and Isaac.  Harvey is a little overwhelming in his desire to play, staring at her until he gets close enough to lick her.  Gidget was obviously annoying Isaac this morning.  He growls at her, but mostly seems to just want to be left alone.  She then slowly stalks him, copying his movements around the house.  Watching them, I really think she'll win him over eventually.

Hans has asked repeatedly that I specifically note some kiddo idiosyncrasies: 

• Hazel doesn't like "fridge milk."  If she doesn't finish her milk and it's put into the refrigerator, she refuses to drink it the next day or whatever, referring to it as "fridge milk."  She says it doesn't taste good.  If I remember to put a lid on it and pour it into a different cup, she hasn't seemed to notice yet, but who knows if that will last.
• When talking about Doctor Who, Eli piped up with: "It's not 'Sci Fi.'  It's 'speculative fiction.'"

Abby is at horse camp and we are hoping it's good.  Poor weather may mean she doesn't get to actually ride, which completely wrecks the whole purpose!  I sent her an one-way email last night, including a picture of her new cousin, Mae.  Three nights away, knowing nobody, is LONG.  I want my girl back!  Waiting until tomorrow morning to pick her up is agonizing.

My Big Girl is 12!

Made a lemon bundt cake with lemon glaze for my sweetie girl's 12th birthday.  Darn thing wouldn't come out of the pan properly so it looks ugly.  Glaze can't cover that puppy.  Oh well.  Good thing pretty has nothing to do with taste!  Farmor, Grandpops, and Uncle Bjorn helped celebrate our #1 girl.